A man in Thailand has admitted to causing the death of his one-year-old stepson after allegedly subjecting the child to severe abuse, in a disturbing case reported in Ratchaburi province.
Authorities said the suspect, 38, also confessed to attempting to “revive” the child using an electric shock device used for fishing after realising the boy was unresponsive.
The incident reportedly took place on April 6, with doctors confirming that the toddler died from severe brain injuries believed to have been caused by blunt force trauma.
Medical reports also revealed multiple injuries, bruises, and burn marks on the child’s back and buttocks, raising strong suspicions of prolonged abuse.
Police said both the suspect and the child’s mother, aged 30, have been detained for further investigation.
During interrogation, the man admitted to abusing the child over a two-month period, including beating him and extinguishing cigarette butts on his body.
He also confessed to striking the child on the head in a fit of rage after the boy cried, causing him to lose consciousness. In panic, he allegedly used the electric shock device in an attempt to revive him.
The child’s condition worsened, with bleeding from the mouth and nose, before he was later pronounced dead at hospital.
The mother reportedly admitted she had witnessed previous abuse but claimed she was unable to stop her partner’s violent behaviour and was present when the child died.
Police have charged both suspects under Section 288 of the Thai Criminal Code for murder with intent. If convicted, they face the death penalty, life imprisonment, or between 15 and 20 years in prison.
Reports also stated that the mother refused to claim the child’s body from the hospital, while the remains were eventually taken by the grandmother for funeral arrangements.
